Knives at college

MAKnifenut said:
On campus
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Then I say fallow the rules. I am not sure what the rules are at your University but in these parts if they want to be hard a-- they can kick you out of school( like see ya , don't come back) for any knife. People are touchy about weapons (I know knives are not weapons,but they may not.) You don't really want that kind of mark on your record and try to get into another school.There is a time and a place for things. Wait this year out and move off campus next year.Study hard or you might end up a knife maker for the rest of your life:D
 
I went the last 3 semesters carrying blades clipped to my pocket ranging from a Boker Nano to a Microtech SOCOM. I honestly didn't know that there was a 2.5" limit until I looked it up last semester. I never got in trouble. Nobody asked what was hanging from my pocket. I only took them out in safe company. I didn't use them more than a couple times. Just opened a couple scantron packets and then to cut some bagels that someone brought in (where I learned my professor is an Eagle Scout). If anyone would have said anything, I would have simply replied "I have never used my knives as a weapon, but I use them all the time as tools at work, so to me it is a tool."
 
IMO the main NEED for a knife at school is filled by a SAK or Leatherman that has the following items unless you do true cooking and food preparation in your room:

Can opener
bottle opener
corkscrew
scissors
fingernail cleaner and file
screwdrivers, regular and Philips
I also like a magnifying glass
Blade that is within the state law limits for not being considered a weapon.

Then keep a copy of that state law and school rules with you in your wallet for if you are questioned. Such a combo item seems to me to be classified as a multitool rather than a weapon and within school rules mentioned here if reasonably interpreted.
 
Multitools are almost always fine.

Often times a not too tatcical one handed opener is as well.

Depends on where you go to college though, I live in the NW and most colleges here are fairly open about that. Carrying a fixed balde openly would be an issue though.

but any SAK, leathermen and most OHO's should be fine. Start with the SAK and feel things out.
 
MAKnifenut said:
Hey guys, so im going off to college in september and my school has a rule that says the only kinds of knives you can have are for cooking. I still want to bring knives with me of course so i was thinking about bringing an old hickory butcher knife just incase i need a fixed blade and then just bringing a cheap cold steel folder or a SAK and never using it unless i really need it. What do you guys think of this
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OK, Cold Steel Master Hunter (4 1/2" stainless steel blade) makes an excellent kitchen knife. Have used mine many times for food prep as well as for hunting. For pocket carry, a Cold Steel "Voyager" folder, with a 4" blade, is also a good choice. Lightweight and razor sharp, right out of the box. CRKT and Spyderco also make good, sharp, versatile folders. Lose the pocket clip and go for deep-pocket carry to avoid troubles on and off campus. Leave the huge chef's knives, butcher knives, and Bowie-type knives at home. Also, it might be a good idea to have lockable storage for your knives if you live on campus. That prevents nosy RAs and room-mates from snooping around and "accidentally" discovering your hardware. A small locking file cabinet is a good choice. Another good choice is a 3' Greenlee jobsite contractor toolbox. Locks with standard padlocks and makes an excellent footlocker to store your knives, spare cash and personal papers. SAK is good, but if I lived on campus, I would probably pick a Leatherman multi-tool. Just a bit more versatility. During my college career (1978-1982), I carried a Gerber FS II rocker-locked folder that I also used at my part-time jobs. I was a commuter, so I did not spend an excessive amount of time on campus. Carried the Gerber pivot-down in the right front pocket of my jeans. We did not have pocket clips back in those ancient times!
 
My university doesn't have an issue with knives, I carry one on campus every day. Never had an RA give me trouble, most of my RA's in the past carried daily themselves!
 
As long as you don't whip it out for stupid reasons, you should be fine. I went to a more liberal school in a very liberal state, and I openly carried my BM's clipped to my right f.p. and never had any issues.. Then again, I never showed anyone, nor did I use it in public - reasons why most would cause sheeple to complain.

Just don't use your blade at the dining hall when they offer silver-wear, that's what I mean when I say "stupid reasons." Once your out of school, carry all you want - just be smart about it while "at" school.. My .2
 
I wouldn't pack my whole collection but I would pack my EDC and a backup. Theft is the main reason I wouldn't pack my collection. Space constraints and the possibility of RA's/an those who might not like the idea of someone having a knife seeing them is greater are a couple other good reasons not to pack an entire collection.

As P_Meticulous said, keep them in your pocket or tucked away and you will be fine. Heck I packed my shotgun in to my on campus apartment (discretely) to clean it when I was on the trap team with no issues (I wouldn't suggest anyone do this & looking back it was a bad idea that could have ruined my education goals). Don't go whipping your knife out in front of people unless your dead sure everyone who can see it is cool with it.

Good luck with your college education...
 
I would just pick up an SAK and get someone to remove the blade and replace it with a tool or scissors, it sucks but you should be able to make due with it in most situations without risking expulsion. Or if you don't mind something smaller a Wenger air traveler, or victorinox jetsetter. Than there is the leatherman fuse, the model that has no blade. There may be other leathermans without a blade but I don't remember off hand.

Personally if it were me I pick up one of the smaller SAK's I mentioned and a Cadet and try to get one of the people on the forum to mod it for me (I've seen at least one person who sells modded SAK's and does good work on here). Pretty much a simple swap from the blade to a large scissors should do the trick to give you something to EDC and still remain practical.

It's just not worth risking your education on something stupid like this, especially when you consider how much you invest into it with your time/money. Even a custom SAK like this probably won't set you too far back when you compare it to your books and if it's made right it will last you a lifetime.
 
College = a basic non-locking Victorinox SAK with corkscrew (chicks dig wine).

Understand that there's a 75% chance some nitwit will steal it from your dorm room at some point. If/when this happens, just go to Target and buy another Spartan.
 
I'm in the same boat. My plan is just to bring my Vic Cadet. One thing I can't emphasize enough is online where I'm going, they talk about what's allowed in the residence halls. I have no idea what is good to go in the classrooms and other buildings. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a "No knives/firearms beyond this point" sign on the door of every building. And I'd scratch idea for the sheath knife. You're just asking for trouble by trying to skirt the rules.
 
I say it depends on what kind of culture your college is set in. During math class last year an instructor was interested in a students knife clipped to his pocket. It was a s&w assisted tactical of some sort, he just said neato (he was an older gentlemen) and continued on with his lecture. I notice a lot of people with knives clipped to them but than again we have a large police science department and various types of technical classes where a knife might be essential.


I don't attend those classes so I don't generally carry my EDC with me. I'm pretty certain I could and have on the off day I forgot to take it out of my pocket. But I always have my Vic Rally on me, a SAK classic with the scissors replaced with a bottle opener/screwdriver.
 
I fully agree with MarkIII. Depends on the culture of the area your going to school in. I would go for a few days or at least one day. See how many pocket clips you spot and if anyone is hassled over them. I know when my friend had his knife casually clipped to his jeans (this was in high school not college but the same could happen) a teacher flipped out and confiscated the blade. Just a simple pocket knife not even three inches in length. The teacher did this, claiming it was against the law. Our principal at the time loved to chat with me and that same friend about what new knives we had. Sometimes we would bring them just for him to see them. So I would just try to learn how things are before I would carry anything.
 
Just don't be dumb with it! I keep a good collection with me at the University of Connecticut and even a wetterlings large hunting axe for impromptu camping around campus. These all stay in my room in a drawer (the axe is under the bed) and I usually edc a spyderco cricket.
 
I go to the University of Texas at San Antonio and have frequently gone to class with a millie clipped in my pocket. Never had any issues
 
kniferbro said:
I go to the University of Texas at San Antonio and have frequently gone to class with a millie clipped in my pocket. Never had any issues
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Just out of curiosity, do the campus police try to enforce the city of San Antonio's ban on locking folders?
 
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